Diamonds are rare, but so are the highly qualified explorers needed to seek out future diamond mines.
A new diamond exploration training school is starting at the University of Alberta, in partnership with the University of British Columbia. The graduate program received funding of $1.65 million over the next six years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

For an 18-year-old, Tim Wong has got it together. He figured out what he wanted to do in high school, and not only did he do it, but he was paid well to do it, and the money he earned did not go toward tattoos and pizza.

On a recent Monday morning, nearly a year to the day since construction began on Rogers Place, the downtown arena site buzzes with activity. For the many tradespeople working on site for construction contractor PCL, it’s an exciting place to be.

On a recent Monday morning, nearly a year to the day since construction began on Rogers Place, the downtown arena site buzzes with activity. For the many tradespeople working on site for construction contractor PCL, it’s an exciting place to be.

There were no iPads, iPods, laptops or Xboxes to entertain Michael Odetola as a little boy growing up in Lagos, Nigeria — Africa’s largest city. In fact, there was very little to distract him from his daydreams and wanderings, but when a freight train rumbled by, there was something in him that was always awakened. “Growing up as a little lad, there was this train track that passed through my community,” says Odetola. “I was always excited to watch the train as it rolled by. I remember always trying to catch a glimpse of the engineer, and each time I saw him, I did not cease to wonder how he managed to control such a behemoth without it going off its tracks.”

It was the summer of 1983, and Claude Laverdiere had recently finished his first year of automotive mechanics at NAIT. The 18-year-old, born and raised on a farm in Alberta’s Peace Country, planned to start buying land to farm while working as a mechanic on the side.

It was the summer of 1983, and Claude Laverdiere had recently finished his first year of automotive mechanics at NAIT. The 18-year-old, born and raised on a farm in Alberta’s Peace Country, planned to start buying land to farm while working as a mechanic on the side.

Fear has been known as the ‘enemy of progress.’ Alberta is putting that adage to the test, as oil prices have dropped recently and raised concerns over economic growth and employment prospects. But regardless of the current market conditions, skilled labour is vital to propelling the economy forward. Many believe that despite the present challenges, keeping one’s eyes fixed on the future requires investments in training — particularly in the skilled trades.

A partnership that taps into Alberta’s aboriginal workforce is helping young people get the training they need to find and keep steady employment in the trades. “I saw a door open and I needed to go there,” says Curtis Lupaschuk, 28, a member of the Whitefish Lake First Nation who entered the Pre-Employment Construction and Pre-Employment Scaffold Training Program in his community in April 2013.

A partnership that taps into Alberta’s aboriginal workforce is helping young people get the training they need to find and keep steady employment in the trades. “I saw a door open and I needed to go there,” says Curtis Lupaschuk, 28, a member of the Whitefish Lake First Nation who entered the Pre-Employment Construction and Pre-Employment Scaffold Training Program in his community in April 2013.

It’s more than just some pretty space. Many of the training facilities for aspiring tradespeople in Alberta really are remarkably beautiful with thoughtful, modern designs and bright, open spaces. But more importantly, many of the province’s schools are outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and some of the most up-to-date technology available.

At age 27, Mike McNarland is embarking on a second exciting career. Following nearly five years as an armoured crewman in the Canadian Forces operating and maintaining armoured fighting vehicles, McNarland is now apprenticing as a welder, working in heavy industrial construction.

At age 27, Mike McNarland is embarking on a second exciting career. Following nearly five years as an armoured crewman in the Canadian Forces operating and maintaining armoured fighting vehicles, McNarland is now apprenticing as a welder, working in heavy industrial construction.

In nearly two decades in the trades, Mark Peters’ career has taken him many places. He has two tickets — electrician and power system electrician — and is currently balancing full-time work in Fort McMurray with classes at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton.

Tyler Handy took the first tentative steps down his career path at the tender age of 14, working at a Burger King in Ontario to support himself while trying desperately to keep his head above water in a tourist town known for its world-famous waterfalls and affluence.

In nearly two decades in the trades, Mark Peters’ career has taken him many places. He has two tickets — electrician and power system electrician — and is currently balancing full-time work in Fort McMurray with classes at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton.

Standing next to the vast dug up plot of the future Rogers Place, a group of construction workers reflect on how they got a job that seven months ago seemed impossible. Water Wings, an employment readiness program, and PCL Construction have been partnered since May 2014. That partnership has helped eight people get jobs so far with PCL on projects like Rogers Place.

The Nova Scotia government’s decision to effectively ban the use of hydraulic fracturing is unnecessary and will preclude Nova Scotians from benefitting from the responsible development of their onshore natural gas resource.